Western Hills Christian Church: “You are family here!”

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matthew 7:24

The Christian life is hard work. Christianity involves systematically striving to implement the truths of God’s Word into your life. Spiritual depth and maturity do not come without consistent effort.

Jesus had just concluded the Sermon on the Mount, which sets forth some of the most profound truths ever spoken. The Son of God had clearly explained the kind of life that is pleasing to the Father. Yet Jesus knew, even as He was concluding His sermon, that some of His listeners would leave and never apply a word they had heard.

Jesus said that a man who takes the words of God and builds them into his life is like a wise man who builds his house on a rock. Rocks are hard to build on. It takes great effort to attach a foundation to a rock. A house built on sand provides instant comfort; building on a rock is laborious and tedious. Yet building on sand leaves the builder in a vulnerable position, while the one building on the rock is secure.

How can you tell what kind of foundation a life has been built on? Watch to see what happens when a storm comes. A life built upon the Word of God will withstand the very storm that sweeps away the life that did not heed God’s Word.

There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. Maturity only comes through hard work and obedience to what God says. The next time you hear Jesus speaking, immediately begin to firmly build His truth into your life, so that no storm can unsettle you.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Matthew 11:28-29

If you find that Christianity exhausts you, draining you of your energy, then you are practicing religion rather than enjoying a relationship.  Jesus said that a relationship with him would bring rest to your soul.  Your walk with the Lord will not make you weary; it will invigorate you, restore your strength, and energize your life.

Hard work or lack of sleep can make you tired.  This fatigue can usually be remedied by a good rest.  But there is a deeper fatigue that goes beyond physical tiredness.  There is an emotional exhaustion that comes from experiencing heavy burdens and draining crises.  There is a tiredness deep within our soul that comes from carrying the weight of the needs of others.  You can go on a vacation, but your soul will not be restored.  This condition can only be rectified by finding rest in Christ.

Some zealous Christians want to do all they can to serve Christ, and they exhaust themselves in the process.  It was to these that Jesus extended His invitation to go to Him and learn from Him.  Jesus spent most of His earthly ministry surrounded by needy multitudes.  He faced relentless opposition, He often prayed throughout the night, and He rarely had any privacy, yet He always received the rest and strength that came from His Father.  It was not that Jesus did not work hard but that He knew the path to spiritual rest.  Are you weary?  Go to Jesus and let Him give you His rest.  His rest will restore your soul as nothing else can.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

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Text: Nehemiah 5:1-19

I.  Nehemiah’s situation (Nehemiah 5:1-8)

1. What are some of the problems that Nehemiah faced?
   (high taxes,high interest rates against his countrymen, countrymen became indentured slaves) READ Nehemiah 5:1-5
2. How did Nehemiah react?
   (with anger, he thought about the situation,assessed the people who were guilty & addressed the issue promptly) READ Nehemiah 5:6-8
3. What was Nehemiah’s example? (Nehemiah 5:1-5)
   (dealt with living a life that was absolutely beyond reproach)

II.  Nehemiah’s example.

1. Be true to God’s Word.
2. Avoid worldliness
3. Moral standards.

III.  Nehemiah’s motives.
Nehemiah feared God more than he feared man. See: Hebrews 10:13 & James 1:22

Conclusion
Read: 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10

1. Have the proper attitude toward God.
2. Have the right motive to remain faithful to God.
3. Rely upon the power of God to help us overcome our weaknesses.

Text: Nehemiah 4:11-23

I.  Renewal by the opposition. (Nehemiah 4:8,11-12)

A concerted effort
A convincing effort

1. We will all be vulnerable to Satan’s attacks at some point in our life (Nehemiah 4:12)
   See: 2nd Timothy 4:16-17
2. We must be careful not to live close to the enemy

II.  Reason for the opposition (Nehemiah 4:7)

III.  Reaction to the opposition ()

1. Evaluation
2. Courage
3. Focus

IV.  Resist the opposition (Nehemiah 4:16)

Principle: Never leave the work for the battle.
Notice the balance in Nehemiah 4 between the building and the battle?

Conclusion:

How can we resist the opposition?

1. By being armored for warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18)
   
2. By rallying together (Nehemiah 4:20)

Our God will fight for us.

NIV Study Bible Book Introductions: Nehemiah